How to Relax Between Shows at Fashion Week
By Shyema Azam
As fabulous as Fashion Week is, make no mistake, it's EXHAUSTING. By day three, I was aching to be pampered. Luckily, I was invited to some pretty amazing ways to relax in between shows at the Empire Hotel (I know, very Gossip Girl). The first stop: Victoria's Secret VIP Fashion Week Suite. I made my way to the rooftop, where there were plenty of ways to enjoy the views and beautify.
I made sure I was the first one in my buddy, Lauren Cosenza's, makeup chair. She's not only the most fabulous makeup artist, but she also has an incredible beauty blog, Divalicious. We yapped while she did my makeup with pretty shimmery colors from VS makeup.
I got a quick massage right after, and headed to another cabana to get a manicure. I went with a ruby color from CND, Indian Rubarb.
There were also plenty of lingerie laid out to peruse (it IS a Victoria's Secret lounge, after all), and their newest fragrance, Gorgeous, to test. I'm obsessed with VS fragrance, so it was a treat to rejuvenate with a splash of their perfume.
It was so nice, I went up again the next day, where I ran into my friend Jeannine Morris of Beauty Sweet Spot, interviewing Victoria's Secret model and Elle cover girl, Doutzen Kroes!
And can we just talk about these towering heels she was wearing?!
After days of crying for a podiatrist for my own aching feet, my eyes were popping out at the sight of those babies!
The happiness at the Empire Hotel didn't stop there! Beauty brand, Artistry, also had a Beauty Lounge on the the 10th floor of the hotel, so I zipped on over the next day. Somehow, I ended up sharing the elevator with the host of E! News, Giuliana Rancic, who looked like a dream in a baby pink dress. She was talking about how some hairstylist cut her bangs too short, but I promise not a hair looked out of place!
When I entered the hotel suite, I was instantly taken to another world -- it wasn't a hotel anymore, it was a spa complete with massage chairs, a makeover room and a counter for skin consultations (yes, I stopped at all three).
I got to see firsthand their new Creme LuXury Eye treatment, which the makeup artist, Dawn, applied to my eyes and gave me this vibrating contraption to use around my eyes so the cream absorbs!
The device is actually only available in Korea right now -- fingers crossed available here soon too. It felt like it was really helping the eye cream absorb (my sinuses were instantly draining too so something MUST have been happening!).
It's just what the Fashion Week doctor ordered -- a little TLC right around the corner from the shows!
All photos by Shyema Azam.
